Comment is free + Faisal Shahzad | The Guardianhttp://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/commentisfree+world/faisal-shahzad
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Faisal Shahzad: the dumb-bomber | Bilal Balochhttp://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/cifamerica/2010/may/07/faisal-shahzad-times-square-bomb-new-york
The alleged Times Square car bomber in New York should be regarded as a bungling criminal, not a terrorist mastermind<p>Late on Monday, after a 53-hour Jack Bauer-style manhunt, <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/may/03/times-square-bomb-second-man">Faisal Shahzad</a> – the person allegedly behind the Time Square bomb plot – was arrested. The 30-year-old was buckled into his seat on a flight out of JFK Airport in New York, on his way to Dubai. His first words to the authorities: &quot;I was expecting you. Are you NYPD or FBI?&quot; To his bitter disappointment neither the FBI nor NYPD escorted him off the airline: Customs and Border Patrol agents took Shahzad away. </p><p>There is nothing remarkable about Faisal Shahzad. The <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/05/nyregion/05profile.html">married, father-of-two</a> arrived in the US a decade ago, and studied privately in both Washington and Connecticut. No mosque claims to have any knowledge of him, and so far the most interesting fact about his life to have emerged is that he frequently ate at the Red Lobster restaurant chain. What is remarkable, however, is that Shahzad now stands alongside growing <a href="http://www.eurasiareview.com/2010/04/30-terrorist-plots-foiled-how-system.html">alumni of fellow would-be-terrorists</a> who – for want of a cruder word – messed up. The nature of the flawed attempts does show that these young men are juvenile and like many other criminals.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/cifamerica/2010/may/07/faisal-shahzad-times-square-bomb-new-york">Continue reading...</a>Times Square bombNew YorkAl-QaidaUS national securityUS constitution and civil libertiesTalibanUS newsWorld newsFaisal ShahzadFri, 07 May 2010 19:00:01 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/cifamerica/2010/may/07/faisal-shahzad-times-square-bomb-new-yorkBrendan Mcdermid/ReutersA technician examines the SUV packed with bomb materials in New York's Times Square. Photograph: Brendan Mcdermid/ReutersBilal Baloch2010-05-07T19:00:01ZTerrorists overshadow the real Pakistan | Mustafa Qadrihttp://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2010/may/06/terrorists-overshadow-real-pakistan
Misguided individuals such as Faisal Shahzad have obscured our rich heritage and reduced Pakistan to a 'terror central' stereotype<p>The well-worn maxim that all publicity is good publicity does not immediately spring to mind in Pakistan. But given the country's frontline position in the fight against global terrorism, the involvement of yet another Pakistani in a plot to bomb a major international city will be a boon for everyone in favour of continued war in the &quot;AfPak&quot; region. For the rest of us, the alleged attempt by Pakistani-American Faisal Shahzad to <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/may/04/us-man-arrested-times-square-bomb" title="Guardian: Faisal Shahzad due in court over Times Square car bomb">bomb New York's Times Square</a> has been a disaster.</p><p></p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2010/may/06/terrorists-overshadow-real-pakistan">Continue reading...</a>Times Square bombPakistanWorld newsIslamUS newsMiddle East and North AfricaFaisal ShahzadThu, 06 May 2010 18:00:03 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2010/may/06/terrorists-overshadow-real-pakistanJewel Samad/AFP/Getty ImagesAn image of terror suspect Faisal Shahzad is seen on a TV screen as a briefing on the Times Square bomb is held. Photograph: Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty ImagesJewel Samad/AFP/Getty ImagesAn image of terror suspect Faisal Shahzad is seen on a TV screen as a briefing regarding the investigation into the Times Square attempted bombing is held. Photograph: Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty ImagesMustafa Qadri2010-05-06T18:00:03Z